Reply from Simon Doggett , FGW▸ 's new Transport Integration Manager : I am now re-writing the cycle policy leaflet to be completely clear on what our policy is.
Oh joy of joys! My life is now complete, you can take me when you are ready, Lord
A new manager re-writing the cycle policy leaflet, I really wish you hadn't told me about that, Lee.
From the point of view of somebody who has to manage re-written cycle policies, I think the closest we got to getting it right was the Wessex policy of NO non-folding bikes on commuter services. Of course, commuting cyclists disagreed to such an extent that the Company gave in. I'm a mountain-biker myself and fully appreciate the attraction of taking a bike on a train. But we have to consider the fact that our local trains are not suitable for more than two bikes and that is what we have to manage. A bike takes up the space of three standing people and in a crowded train can easily cause injury and soiled clothing to those nearby. They cause delays as riders try to find somewhere to put them and as the conductor has to run up and down the platform, remonstrating, explaining and arguing. And they travel for nothing.......
On quieter services there is usually room and it should be left to the conductor to decide whether it will inconvenience other passengers. But there's not going to be room on busy Weymouths, Baths and Portsmouth-Cardiffs at busy periods, so how can you have a consistent policy? The only CONSISTENT policy would be NO bikes at all. It is best to let sleeping dogs lie and let it find it's own level. My policy is, if they can get the bike on without harming others then I'll accept it. But what cyclist is going to accept
my judgement and get left behind?
As for Graham's comment about pushchairs and luggage on Weymouth services. You are absolutely correct. Holidaymakers are carrying ever larger wheelie bags that they cannot lift and which will not fit on luggage racks. The other main travellers are daytrippers, many in large family groups with at least one pushchair. There is usually a wheelchair passenger on most of these runs, as well. Each 158 only has one wheelchair space so the only place for unfolded pushchairs is in the doorways. The trend nowadays is for Mums to stack up the pushchairs with everything they need for the day, making it into more of a wheelbarrow festooned with carrier bags. They will often take the baby out to make more room for luggage - because it's easier to push. But getting them on and off a crowded train can be almost impossible. They are too overloaded to fold and it would take too long anyway and then of course I get abused for not providing enough space.
It can be too dangerous to try and climb through this lot carrying a heavy ticket machine - if I don't hurt myself, I will hurt someone else and that is why you will often not see a conductor in the saloon. We do need to be by the front door at certain stations for local door operation and this is usually achieved by walking along the platform at the previous station to position ourselves at the front. That gives us no access to a
PA▸ point so there will be no PAs.
Just a little insight from the other side of some of these problems.
Click on the map to explore geographics
